Delegation of people from Balodgahan village of Balod district led by nominated MLA Mr. Joseph Rodrex paid courtesy call on Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh today at his residence office. The delegation discussed about various development works for the area.

After attending Lok Suraaj programmes of three villages in Balod district, Agriculture Minister Mr. Brijmohan Agrawal called meeting of officials and public representatives at District Headquarters Balod yesterday evening. In the meeting, Mr. Agrawal said that for all round development of Balod district, we need to make collective efforts in a well-coordinated manner. He instructed the officials to make action plan for public welfare works and send the same to government. He assured the officials that sufficient funds will be provided for development and public welfare works.

Agriculture Minister Mr. Brijmohan Agrawal said that development of villages, poor and farmers is the chief objective of Lok Suraaj. Development of farmers and labourers leads to progress of the villages, and progress of villages is the true progress of the state and the nation as a whole. Minister AGrawal said that Chhattisgarh is the first state of the country, where state government visits villages and cities of the state to evaluate implementation of public welfare schemes and to check the ground reality of development works.

Delgation from Janpad Panchayat Daundi, Balod district, led by Ex-MLA Mr. Lal Mahendra Singh Tekam, paid courtesy visit to Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh at his residence office yesterday evening. Delegation included newly-elected President Mr. Prakash Maurya and Vice-President Mr. Bheeshm Tandon and other elected Janpad members. Chief Minister heartily congratulated the panchayat representatives and assured them of all the support for rural development works, on behalf of state government.

About 450 city buses will be started in 70 big and small cities in Chhattisgarh soon. Twenty-one main cities and 49 link towns are included. Chief Secretary Mr. Vivek Dhand chaired the meeting on transport and it was attended by top officers of the department. The process of tender work for the purchase of buses is completed.

Higher and Technical Education Minister Premprakash Pandey today said that National Social Service gives students an opportunity to understand the rural life and study social issues in the surrounding areas.

Mr. Pandey was speaking as chief guest at the seven-day National Social Service camp at Agrasen Polytechnic campus, Dangania, District Balod. The camps inspire the students to do social service and work for the welfare of the nation. The main aim of the camps is to involve the student community in development activities.

After deliberating upon the proposals of State Government, Central Government today sanctioned Rs 412 crore for Chhattisgarh under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). Union Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh sanctioned the amount after an hour-long meeting with Chhattisgarh Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar in New Delhi. Union Secretary for Panchayat and Rural Development along with Additional Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh Government's Panchayat and Rural Development Department M K Raut were present at the meeting.

Union Agriculture Minister Mr Radhamohan Singh today announced the construction of a conference hall at a cost of Rs 3 crore on the premises of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University here. The hall will be in the name of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. He was speaking at the two-day seventh regional meet of the Indian Agricultural Research Council. On the instructions of Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh, he also announced the construction of a kisaan hostel in the name of Late Dr Khubchand Baghel in the capital.